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With United Auto Workers union leaders having endorsed a new agreement, and the company also announcing it had agreed to pay $15.4 billion to create a health-care fund with the UAW, it's appropriate to evaluate Ford's (NYSE: F) progress and prospects.

One has to view the (tentative) contract agreement, and any fully-ratified deal, as a positive data point. Among other contract features, if ratified the agreement would enable Ford to hire up to 20% of its work force under a lower-tier wage structure that would substantially reduce its hourly wage structure, Reuters reported Monday, in exchange for Ford's sparing from closure six plants it had planned to close. In short, if ratified, Ford will have made considerable progress in three key areas: labor costs per hour, work rules, and health insurance cost containment. Ford's shares closed Monday down 28 cents to $8.67.

Continue reading For Ford, some progress, but much work remains

For Ford, some progress, but much work remains originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto designcarsChryslercorporate restructuringCorporateRestructuringenvironmentFFordGeneral MotorsGMlabornews carsUAWUnited Auto WorkersMon, 05 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Serious Money: Alcoa (AA) makes some good and bad moves]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/05/serious-money-alcoa-aa-makes-some-good-and-bad-moves/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/05/serious-money-alcoa-aa-makes-some-good-and-bad-moves/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/05/serious-money-alcoa-aa-makes-some-good-and-bad-moves/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Today Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) announced some restructuring plans that will trim down (SELL) some under-performing consumer packaging and automotive castings divisions. It will be taking some charges to the tune of $845 million as well, and intends to gear up for expansion into higher margin areas. Alcoa also said it raised cash by selling its 7% stake in Chalco, the Aluminum Corp China ADS (NYSE: ACH) and bringing in $2 billion dollars on what was initially a $200 million investment -- "A ten bagger."

It is this latter decision that is not smart, and without further explanation from management I have to question selling a winner. If you look at all of the things that Alcoa did in the last 10 years you will find that the Chalco investment was the smartest, and more importantly, the most profitable, thing it has done. For many years Alcoa stock has been adrift. Since it sold the stock it has only gone up further and as I write these words and look at the price now, ACH is trading up over 5% more to $75.70.

Continue reading Serious Money: Alcoa (AA) makes some good and bad moves

Serious Money: Alcoa (AA) makes some good and bad moves originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 stock picks2007StockPicksAAACHAlcoa Inc (AA)AlcoaInc(aa)AluminumAluminum Corp of China ADS (ACH)AluminumCorpOfChinaAds(ach)Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)BerkshireHathaway(brk.a)ChalcoChasing VAlueChasingValueChinaCorporate profitsCorporate restructuringCorporateProfitsCorporateRestructuringSheldon LiberSheldonLiberValue investingValueInvestingFri, 05 Oct 2007 15:30:00 EST